Anthony Kim is targeting a first victory outside the United States in this week’s Ballantine’s Championship as he seeks to mount a challenge in The 2010 Race to Dubai.
The 24 year old has arrived in Korea in fine form after winning the Shell Houston Open – his third US PGA Tour title – and finished third in the Masters Tournament following a scintillating final round 65 to record his best finish in a Major Championship to date.
Kim is currently tenth in The Race to Dubai and he is enjoying being part of the year-long European Tour competition.
“I signed up for The European Tour again this year, and it wasn't a tough decision,” he said. “I want to play all over the world, and I think it's important for young players like myself and others to grow the game wherever we can.
“So I'm excited for this opportunity and I want to thank The European Tour and everyone here in Korea for giving me this chance. All I can do is try my best and I'm going to give it everything I have this week.
“I'm very excited and honoured to be here in Korea, and I've been looking forward to coming back here to this tournament for a long time. I want to thank Ballantine's for having me back.
“As far as my form is concerned, I've been scoring well and I've been playing pretty good golf. I’m pretty happy about how I'm playing in general, but mostly about how I'm chipping and putting. So if I can keep that up, I should be in good shape.”
Kim made his debut in the Ballantine’s Championship in 2008 finishing tied fifth but The Ryder Cup player believes he is a more mature person and player since his last trip to Jeju Island.
“I've changed quite a bit as a person and as a golfer,” he said. “I can tell you that I'm having a lot more fun than I was when I was a couple years ago. It's a lot easier for me to come to a tournament and enjoy being out there, enjoy the fans, enjoy the support.
“So I am a much different player. I don't know physically if I'm a different player, but because I'm more patient, and I've had more life experiences, I'm realising how lucky I am to be playing golf for a living and enjoying these moments.”
Californian Kim will have added incentive to win this week as his parents are both from Korea. He endeared himself to the gathered local media ahead of the end of his pre-tournament press conference by addressing them at the end of his press conference in their native tongue.
Kim said: “As a child my mother and father taught me a lot of Korean. Living in the States has made it difficult for me to keep up my Korean so I plan to hire a teacher and learn Korean again and so when I have another interview in the future I will try to do it in Korean.”
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